Arundel mother, son give time to therapeutic riding program

Volunteer Spotlight

September 24, 1995|By Kevin Harrison

The volunteers: Because Denise Gilbert has been interested in horses for years, she couldn't help but notice the ad in the local Pennysaver for volunteers to help at the county's therapeutic riding program.

She signed up quickly, and for the last two years she and her son, Michael, 12, have been helping disabled riders mount and dismount and leading their horses around the Andover Equestrian Center in Linthicum. Last year, her husband, Greg, helped as well.

The program is offered each spring and fall. The family lives in Severn and Michael is in the sixth grade at Old Mill Middle School South in Millersville.

Denise: "I wanted to teach my son that you have to help everybody. We still can't get him on a horse, but he loves doing it. He's the lead walker, he likes to be right at the front. It's amazing.

"He had never been around handicapped people but he just took to them. It was really nice.

"It's a wonderful thing, relating to the people. You get to know them and I think they really enjoy it. We just like them all. You get caught up in their excitement.

"Once you get pulled into it, it's like you can't give it up."

Michael: "When you get there, you saddle the horse and get it ready and take it up to the ring that you ride in, help them [the program participants] with their helmets and make sure they're secured on the horse and walk the horses around the track.

"I really like doing it."

Information: For more information about the program contact Ann Read at 280-0577.

The food begins arriving at 9 a.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the church for sorting and packaging. More than 3 tons of nonperishables need to be sorted during the day. The food is distributed to families statewide Information: 539-7322.

"Volunteer Spotlight" is compiled by Kevin Harrison. To recommend someone, call the Anne Arundel Bureau, 315-8911, any time or fax information to 315-8916.